Choice and Prime slaughter steers sold
steady to 50 lower at most midwest terminals
with Standard and Good 250-$1.00 off. Slaugh-
ter heifers were generally steady to 500 lower
with some Standard to low-Choice 750-$1.50 off.
Downturns in the carlot beef trade influenced
the declines. Slaughter cows were steady to
500 lower. Feeder cattle and calves were steady
to 500 lower at most centers. Barrows and gilts
closed steady to 250 higher over most of the
Corn Belt with sales steady to 500 higher at
Omaha and 50 higher at St. Paul. Sows were
steady to 250 higher. Slaughter lambs were
steady to 500 lower for the-week.

SLAUGHTER CATTLE AND CALVES Prices for
slaughter steers and heifers declined at nearly
all of the terminal markets and the general
downturn was the sharpest for any week since
last June. Uneven distribution of receipts and
lower dressed meat prices attributed to the down-
turn. Choice and Prime slaughter steers sold
steady to 500 lower, other grades 250-$1.00
lower. Heifers were steady to 50 lower; some
Standard to low-Choice 750-$1.50 lower. Cows
closed steady to 500 lower, bulls steady to
$1.00 lower. Vealers steady, except St. Louis
one of the leading centers $1.00-3.00 lower.
Receipts at the 12 leading markets totaled
210,000, little changed from a week or a year
ago. The number of slaughter steers and heif-
ers sold out of first hands at the 7 markets
numbered 107,564 compared with 117,045 the pre-
vious week and 116,754 a year earlier. Good and
low-Choice continued to make up a big end of
the apply and were the most difficult to move.
Slaughter steers: High-Choice and Prime
OO1100-150# at Chicago $26.75-28.25, bulk on the
close stopping at $27.75; most Choice $25.00-
26.50, Good $22.25-24.50. At other midwest
terminals a few high-Choice and Prime $26.25-
27.50, mostly $26.25-26.75, Choice bulked $24.50-
26.00, Good $21.50-24.25.
Slaughter heifers: High-Choice and Prime
$26.00-26.50, Choice bulked at $24.25-25.75 and
to $26.00 at Chicago and St. Paul, most Good
$21.25-24.00.
Slaughter cows: Utility and Commercial
largely $14.00-15.50, Canner and Cutter $11.00-
14.00.

FEEDER CATTLE AND CALVES Price trends
and degree of trading activity at the different
terminal markets varied considerably on season-
ally moderate supplies of feeder cattle and
calves. During much of the past month and a
half either extremely adverse weather or snow
and ice or muddy conditions in the wake of rain
and snow storms have created problems in feed-
ing, caring and handling of cattle which varied
in intensity from one area to another. This
was reflected in an uneven demand in recent
past weeks as a result of which price levels

between markets at times were somewhat more
out of line than usually is the case. At Sioux
City and Omaha during the week in review prices
were steady to strong; other midwest markets
steady to 500 lower; Fort Worth and Oklahoma
City strong to 500 higher; Denver steady to
weak. Although considerable unevenness existed,
buyers generally were inclined to go cautiously
in the face of recent downturns in slaughter
cattle prices.
Feeder steers: Bulk Good and Choice 800-
1050# $21.00-23.50; few Choice 800-850# $24.00-
24.25 while Choice partly fattened 1090# sold at
$23.25. Medium and mixed Medium and Good 800-
1000# $18.50-21.50. Good and Choice 550-750#
sold largely from $22.00-26.00, few loads Choice
and mixed Choice and Fancy 600# $27.50-28.00.
Medium 550-700# ranged $18.00-22.50.
Feeder heifers: Choice 520# brought
$26.50; few loads Choice 600-750# $24.50-25.00,
bulk Good and Choice 550-750# -20.00-24.00;
Good, fleshy 735# included at $22.00.
Feeder calves: Occasional shipments
Choice and Choice and Fancy steers $30.50-32.75,
one load 349# $35,00; other Good and Choice 300-
550# $24.00-30.00; Choice 450-500# included at
$28.25-29.00. Good and Choice 300-500,# heif-
ers largely $22.00-26.50, few Choice $27.00-
28.60, load Choice and Fancy 311! $-1.00.

HOGS Terminal markets Alternating high-
er and lower price trends were the feature of
this week's hog trade. At the week's opening,
sales were generally higher on the basis of
reduced supplies. However, late week marketLngs
were fairly liberal and part of the advance was
erased. Barrows and gilts finished the week
steady to 250 higher at most western Corn Belt
markets with sales steady to 500 higher at
Omaha and 500 up at St. Paul. In the eastern
part of the area butchers were largely steady.
Price trends on sows were relatively uniform
around the circuit with sales steady to 250
higher. Receipts at the 12 markets at 322,000
head were 7 percent less than the previous
week but 14 percent above the corresponding
week a year ago. The average weight of barrows
and gilts at the 8 markets was 23W', the same
as the previous week and was 1# above a year
ago. Sows comprised 8 percent of the run at
the 8 markets.
Barrows and gilts: No. 1-2, 180-240#
closed at $17.25-17.75; No. 1-3, 180-250'4 most-
ly $16.75-17.25 and up to $17.75 at Omaha and
in the eastern part of the Corn Belt.
Sows: No. 1-3, 270-400# $14.50-15.75,
mainly $14.50-15.25; No. 2-3, 400-55Q/ $13.50-
15.00.
Feeder pigs at Sioux City remained scarce
without an adequate price test. A small volume
at St. Paul was steady, with Choice 130-150#
selling mostly at $15.50, few shipments $16.00.
Average cut-out value advantage of U. S.

Feeder lambs: Choice and Fancy 62-94Y COLORADO, SOUTHERN WCIKMNG, WESTERN KANSAS
cooled $15.50-17.00, few 65-80# reached '17.25; AND. WESTERN NEBRASKA Trading on slaughter cat-
most Good and Choice 60-80# $153.00-16.50. te direct at feedlots only moderately active
Sheep and lamb receipts in the Interior as the demand was rather poor and with feedlots
Iowa-Southern Minnesota area numbered 27,700 ertrenely muddy numerous operators were reluc-
head compared to 25,200 a week ago and 25,600 tant to offer cattle since they are carrying
last year. excessive tags. Slaughter steers sold 50-75#
Slaughter lambs closed steady to 50# low- lower, heifers 25-500 lower,
er. Slaughter ewes were steady. A need for Slaughter steers: Sales were confirmed
numbers on late sessions stimulated demand and on 5,100 head. Colorado, early in the week
part of the earlier price declines were recovered.average to high-Choice 1100-12507 $26.50-26.75,

EASTERN SEABOARD Steer beef prices were
mostly steady to $1.00 lower. Cow beef was 500-
$1.50 lower. Veal sold steady to weak except at
New York where both veal and calf were $1.00-
2.00 lower. Lamb was steady to $2.50 lower, and.
mostly $2.00-2.50 lower in New York. Pork loins
were steady to $3.00 lower; spareribs strong to
$1.00 higher but at New York ribs sold steady to
$1.00 lower. Other pork cuts were mostly steady,
instances weak to $1.00 lower at Baltimore.
Prices for kosher steer forequarters were
$1.50-2.00 lower; kosher lamb $1.00-5.00 off,
bulk $2.00-3.00 lower; kosher veal steady; calf
weak to $1.00 lower.
Receipts of all classes were normal and.
fully adequate. Trading for beef was generally
slow, and demand only fair. Demand on carcass
beef was only fair, but fairly good for rounds
and chucks at all points other than Philadelphia
and New York. Ribs were steady under fair de-
mand. Some beef was carried at all points. De-
mand for veal and calf was rather poor, with
clearance incomplete at some markets. Calf
supplies were increased at New York, and proved
excessive, with prices mostly $2.00 lower. Lamb
was fairly active except at New York, where
there was poor demand and clearance, and prices
were sharply lower. Demand for pork rather poor,
particularly on loins, and clearance was incom-
plete at New York and Philadelphia.

CHICAGO Steer and heifer beef sold mostly
500-$1.50 lower, veal steady, lamb steady to 50#
lower, pork loins 8-16# 500-$1.50 higher, Boston
butts 4-8# and spareribs 3# and down steady.
Veal continued in small volume but other
fresh meat offerings were normal. Supplies of
beef in the main were Good to low-Choice as high-
Choice and Prime were rather limited. Lamb
weighing 55-65# was the most plentiful.
Trading on carcass beef was slow. Rounds,
which moved at a brisk pace the past two weeks,
slowed considerably and prices declined as much
as $3.00. Ribs were slow but loins and equiva-
lent fabricated cuts cleared fairly well. A slow
early chuck trade turned fairly active Wednesday
but outlets narrowed again and undertone was weak
at the close. A limited veal supply sold steady
in a slow trade. There was a moderate demand for
lamb with the best activity early. Lamb legs,
stews and shoulders cleared readily but sellers
encountered difficulty moving loins and particu-

larly ribs, and ribs sold weak. Trading was
fair for Boston butts, pork loins and spare-
ribs slow but loins ended higher on the basis
of advanced replacement costs.

PACIFIC COAST Carcass steer and heifer
beef sold fairly active, steady to 50# lower,
occasionally $1.00 off on Standard and Good
in the Pacific Northwest. Cow beef was slow,
about steady and bull beef was steady to
50? lower with the decline in Southern Cali-
fornia. Calf was slow under a narrow demand,
steady in California but met good demand at
steady price levels in Portland-Seattle; veal
was untested in Los Angeles, steady in other
areas. Lamb sold in generally slow trade,
steady to $1.00 lower in California but was
fairly active, steady to $1.00 higher in the
Pacific Northwest. Fresh and cured pork
items were slow, steady to $2.00 lower with
most decline on fresh loins and smoked hams.
Moderate to liberal offerings of all
classes of meats except Choice steer beef
below normal in California.

CARLOT MEAT TRADE REVIEW

CHICAGO, DENVER, OMAHA, NEW YORK AND
PHILADELPHIA Demand was poor and trading
slow on normal supplies of beef and prices
declined sharply. Choice steer beef was
500-$1.00 lower and Good grade steady to
$1.00 lower although extremes on both grades
were as much as $1.50 lower at Chicago.
Heifer beef was 500-$1.50 lower, mostly 50#-
$1.00 lower at shipping points. Cow beef
sold steady to $1.00 lower. Clearance was
generally complete on heifer and cow beef
but incomplete on steer beef at some centers.
Normal supplies of carcass lamb met
poor demand and prices were steady to $1.00
lower, mostly 500-$1.00 lower. Clearance
was generally complete.
Trading was moderately active on pork
products under fair demand. Pork loins at
Omaha were mostly $1.00 lower, however, a
late price advance left closing quotations
$1.00-2.00 higher at Chicago. Pork butts
and 12-16# fresh hams were steady to 500
lower. Pork carcasses were steady at New
York but 25-500 lower at Philadelphia.
Clearance was generally complete.

Supplies of greasy domestic worsted wools
in the Boston market continued small. Top-
makers and combers continued to purchase greasy
pulled wools of combing length and prices were
firm.
Supplies of woolen wools and noils con-
tinued limited at steady to firm rates.
Contracting in the territory States had
subsided somewhat compared to a week ago while
the movement of fleece wools for future delivery
was extremely small. There were occasional
sales of fall wools in Texas and a little con-
tracting of 12 months was also noted.
Midweek cables from Australia showed the
Continent and Japan the principal buyers with
prices very strong and clearance good. There
was good general competition in the New Zealand
markets while in South Africa about 95 percent
of offerings of combing wools were sold. France
was the principal buyer in the Cape followed
closely by the United States. Prices advanced
2-50 in Montevideo. Buenos Aires was slow with
sales very limited.
Fleece Wools Graded 50/56s baby combing
fleece wools sold at 97# clean basis on a core
test.
Territory Wools A good-sized clip of
half, three-eighths and quarter-blood wools was
contracted in Idaho at 480 grease basis to the
grower with the estimated clean price around
$1.07 delivered East. Shearing commenced this
week in New Mexico.
Texas Wools Twelve months Texas wool was
contracted in the San Saba area at 553 grease
basis to the grower, while occasional sales of
fall wools were estimated to cost from $.95-
1.00 clean basis delivered East. There was some
shearing in scattered areas in Texas where
weather permitted.
Mohair Fall mohair sold in Texas at 76#
for a~It and $1.351 for kid hair to the ware-
house. Goats were being shorn in some areas
in Texas.
Foreign Wools Supplies of spot foreign
wools were very small. A fair volume of Cape
wool sold for shipment. Cabled reports at
week's end follow with combing wools converted
to clean U. S. oil-combed yields and short wools
to scouring yields, in bond.

_/ Parity prices are computed under the provisions of Title III, Subtitle A, Section 301 (a) of
the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 as amended by the Agricultural Acts of 1948, 1949,
1954, and 1956.
2/ Adjusted base price 1910-14 derived from 120-month, January 1952-December 1961 average, (in-
cluding an allowance where appropriate for unredeemed loans and other supplemental payments
resulting from price support operations) by dividing by 247 percent (the 120-month average
of the Index of Prices Received by Farmers adjusted to include an allowance for unredeemed
loans and other supplemental payments) unless otherwise noted.
_/ Effective parity prices as computed currently using base prices in effect and indexes for
months indicated. These parity prices are the legally applicable parity prices for the
following calendar month.
4/ Adjusted base price 1919-14 derived from 10 season average prices 1952-61 (including an
allowance, where appropriate, for unredeemed loans and other supplemental payments result-
ing from price support operations).

21.30
23.70
26.20
25.20
.749
1.62
.840
1.25
62.60

SHIPMENTS OF STOCKER AND FEEDER CATTLE AMND SEEEP
DECEMBER 1961

Stocker and feeder cattle and calves shipped into 8 selected North Central
States during December 1961 totaled 447 thousand head, 17 percent less than the
number shipped in during December last year. Of the total cattle and calves
received in these 8 States during the month, 179 thousand moved through public
stockyards and 268 thousand were received direct. The direct movement was 60
percent of the total this December compared with 59 percent a year earlier.
Cattle and calves shipped into these States during July-December 1961 totaled
4.2 million head, about the same as the July-December 1960 total.
December shipments of stocker and feeder sheep and lambs into these 8 North
Central States amounted to 127 thousand head, compared with 184 thousand head
during December last year--a decrease of 31 percent. Of the total received
during December, 63 thousand came through public markets and nearly 64 thousand
were received direct. A total of nearly 2.1 million head of stocker and feeder
sheep and lambs were shipped into these 8 States during July-December 1961, down
13 percent from the total for July-December 1960.

I/ Data in this report are obtained from offices of State Veterinarians. Under
"Public Stockyards" are included stockers and feeders which were bought at stock-
yards. Under "Direct" are included stockers and feeders from points other than
public stockyards, some of which are inspected at public stockyards while stopping
for feed, water, and rest en route.
Statistical Reporting Service Crop Reporting Board